While the capital’s urban agriculture scene is making a comeback, many communities, especially in south Sacramento, are still being left behind. There are, however, many who are working to change that. The Mack Road Partnership and Kaiser Permanente have teamed up with others in the area to bring back the Mack Road Valley Hi Farmer’s Market on Center Parkway, open Thursdays 4 to 8 pm.

“The farmer’s market and the new community center are important additions to our South Sacramento community,” said Patricia Rodriguez, Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente in South Sacramento. “Part of Kaiser Permanente’s mission is to improve the health of the communities we serve.”

After recognition of partners who helped make the farmers market possible and the ceremonial ribbon cutting, the market was officially open for the season.

The farmers market offers live cooking demos, on top of a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers and more, at sensible prices for one of the south Sacramento communities that needs it most. In addition, it accepts WIC and CalFresh/EBT thanks to Alchemist CDC, a non-profit that among other things helps introduce quality produce into low income areas. They will even match produce bought with these programs dollar-for-dollar.

The farmer’s market is an addition to the Partnership’s community center, which already has basketball courts donated by the Kings basketball team, a playground, and a chess club. These are all efforts on the part of the Mack Road Partnership to transform the community’s reputation as a low income, high crime area compared to the rest of the city.

Though the farmer’s market is a great addition to a struggling community, there is one thing it can always use more of: customers. Local vendors need the support of the community to not only come back, but to grow, so give the Mack Road’s community farmer’s market a try and stop by Center Parkway any Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00.